Custard. Thick, creamy, sweet. Slabbed between two dainty sheets of flaky puff pastry. Eaten with a fork. This is a vanilla slice, an Australian cake institution, derived from the French mille-feuille, but oh so much better. I have a weakness for vanilla slices, a weakness my beloved grandmother discovered while I was still a child, and diligently … Continue reading Six reasons to eat that vanilla slice
For today's FRIDAY WITH FRIENDS I welcome April Plummer, who has recently published her debut novel, Coming Home. I haven't had the chance to read it yet, but it sounds incredibly moving. I asked April to stick around to tell us about her novel and share some of her experiences during its creation. Coming Home For … Continue reading April Plummer discusses Coming Home
I’m currently reliving Robin Hobb’s Liveship Traders trilogy during my commute to and from work in the car. (Have I mentioned how much I love audiobooks?) I first read this amazing fantasy trilogy back in 2005 and it has since resided firmly near the top of my all-time favourite novels/series. Even so, I’ve previously read … Continue reading Character and conflict in The Liveship Traders
What constitutes a quote? Something short, snappy and meaningful? Or can it be long and eloquent -- such as the soliloquy from Hamlet I recited at every ancient ampitheatre I came across when travelling in Greece, France and Italy? Or maybe a quote from a favourite book -- or a quote that inspired a favourite … Continue reading Five favourites: quotes or sayings
Hi, I'm Chenna, and I'm SO EXCITED that Ellen has once more unleashed my blogging prowess after two years of keyboard banishment, that I'm of half a mind to be good. Nah. No way! She damn well deserves the full devilcat treatment after halting my therapy in such an unceremonious manner. No wonder I'm so … Continue reading Diary of a Devilcat: What to do with rodents
Yesterday I took a walk with a friend in a local State Park called the You Yangs. The park comprises a series of about four modest granite peaks -- little more than hills, really -- surrounded by scrubby native Australian bush and grassland. Beyond, the land is relentlessly flat and cleared for farming, but within … Continue reading A timely reminder that creativity needs fuelling
This week I'm a guest over at Diana Lesire Brandmeyer's blog talking on the subject of audiobooks... Three reasons why audiobooks are awesome The rise of the e-book over the past few years has sparked some fun discussions about the various merits of ‘tree’ versus ‘e’… But there’s a third format that doesn’t seem to … Continue reading Talking audiobooks with Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
Today I'm absolutely stoked to have best-selling author Julie Kenner (who also publishes as J.K. Beck) as my 'Friday friend'. Julie is perhaps best known for her Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom series, the first of which, Carpe Demon, is currently being made into a movie. (See below for her full bio.) Julie shares some of her … Continue reading Friday with Friends: Julie Kenner/ J.K. Beck
Tonight I chose to watch Legally Blond on TV instead of working on my WIP. My plan was, of course, to write during the movie, which I’ve seen multiple times. I’d opened a bottle of wine and decided that a position stretched out on the sofa, laptop on knee, would be far more comfortable than … Continue reading Let’s talk about choices
There's lots of blog love going around in my world at the moment. Just as I hosted S.M. Nonnemacher here on Friday, so have I appeared as a guest over on Liv Rancourt's blog. Liv, who is a Seattle-based author of speculative fiction, asked me to share some insights on what it's like to live … Continue reading Over at Liv Rancourt’s blog
Ellen Gregory 